Internal-combustion engine.



O. J. FRANK.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24,1912.

1,069,936. Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

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C. J. FRANK.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24,1912.

1,069,936, v Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

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CLINTON J. FRANK, OF WAYLAND, MICHIGAN.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12,1913.

Application filed July 24. 1912. Serial No. 711,268.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, CLINTON J. FRANK, a citizen of the United States, residing at ,Yayland, in the county of Allegan and State bf Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in InternaLCombustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to internal-combustion engines of that type characterized by a cylinder in which operate oscillating pistons, the movement of the pistons being about the axis of the cylinder.

It is the objectof the invention to provide a highly efiicient engine of the kind stated, and also one which is simple in construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide the engine with four .pistons which are connected in pairs, the parts being so designed that an explosion takes place alternately on opposite sides of the pistons.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description appearing hereinafter, and in order that the invention may be better understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1. is a. longitudinal section of the engine, and Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof. Referring specifically to the drawings, 10 denotes the cylinder of the engine, the same being mounted on asuitable base .11, and having a water-jacket 12. 'The cylinder is closed at its ends by heads 13, one of which is removable. The other cylinder head has a water-jacket 13. Radial partitions 14: divide the cylinder into four working chambers in each one of which a piston 15 operates. These pistons are wings which are carried by and extend radially from a shaft 16 extending centrally through the cylinder and passing out of the same through openings in the cylinder heads. The pistons are arranged in pairs the members of which are diametrically opposite one another. The partitions 14 are in contact at their inner ends with the shaft and in order to provide a gastight joint, the inner ends of the partitions have spring-pressed packing blocks 17. The outer ends of the pistons are in contact with the inner surface of the cylinder Wall and are also provided with packing-blocks. 18. On the base 11 are bearings 19 in which is journaled a shaft 20 which receives motion from the shaft 16 through a pitman 21 connected to cranks 22 and 23, respectively,

tions 24. A fuel supply-pipe 2 1 leading to a suitable source 1s connected to, the chamber 24*. An inlet chamber as herein described is located'at the top and at'the bottom of the cylinder, the top chamber supplying thetwo top inlets and the bottom chamber the two bottom inlets. Each working chamber also has two exhaust ports 25,.the same being located in the removable cylinder head 13 and provided with a mechanically operated valve 26. The cylinder head has an exhaust chamber 26 which is communicated with the exhaust ports, said exhaust chamber being provided with a suitable outlet. The valve 26 is held closed by a spring, and is opened at 80 the proper time by a cam lug 27 coming against the end of the stem 2.8'0f the valve. The cam lug is on one face of a disk 29 loosely mounted on the shaft 16, outside the cylinder, and suitably geared to the shaft .20 so that the valve is opened-at the proper time. It will be noted that the exhaust ports are near the ends of the working chamber, adjacent to the partitions, and the pistons swing back and forth between said ports, and pass the inlet at each stroke. In each working chamber, near the ends thereof, is an ignition device 30. The pistons divide the working chambers into two parts, each of which has an exhaust port and'an igniter, the inlet being common to both parts. In order that the operation of the engine may be better understood, I have designated the parts of the chambers a, a; b, b; c, c, and d, cl.

The operation of the engine is as follows: Assumin the charge in the chambers b, b to have con fired and forced the pistons counter-clockwise to the positions shown, the charge in the chambers a, a is compressed, the chambers d, d" are taking in a charge, and the chambers c, c are exhausting. Now as the compressed charge inithe chambers a, a is fired, the pistons are forced in the opposite direction, or clockwise. On this stroke, thechargo in the chambers 03, (l'

is compressed, or, 0' are taking in a charge,

and 1;,1) are exhausting. On the next stroke these actions are repeated in the proper seguence. The swinging back-and forth of the pistons rocks the shaft 16, this moveinent being transmitted to the shaft 20 and converted into a continuous rotary movement thereof through the. driving, connections shown. The pistons travel through an arc of a little less than 90 degrees, and the driving connection is so designed that the shaft 20 is given a half revolution for each swing of the piston in one direction, the 'sWing of the piston in the opposite direction giving the shaft the other half revolution. There is an explosion at each stroke oft-he piston, in view of which the shaft 20 is given two impulses at every revolution, and a powerful engine is produced.

Any suitable mechanism may be'provided in diametrically opposite pairs, and the Wall of the cylinder having diametrically opposite inlet chambers, each of said inlet chambers having a pair of valve-controlled ports opening into the respective pairs of Working chambers, one of {the cylinder heads having an exhaust chamber, a shaft passing centrally through the cylinder, raldial piston wings on the shaft and extending into the respective working chambers, each of said working chambers having an exhaust port at each end, between Which the piston wings travel back and forth, the piston Wings also passing the inlet ports at each stroke, the exhaust ports being located'in the cylinder head having the exhaust chamber, valves controlling the exhaust ports, and operating means for said valves.

.In testimony whereof I- aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses. Y

' CLINTON J. FRANK.

Witnesses:

' S. J. MOGALLIN,

HOWARD E. WARD. 

